This week was amazing; my goal was to challenge these teens in just being a “Christian”. This verse confirms what James says about being a doer of the word, not just a hearer. I really believe the teens were convicted of this and responded to God during worship, they were really challenged to look in the mirror and ask God to help them change. Yes, that is what we want. Here are some notes from the small group discussions. Love you all. _pastor tim

Fruit Week 8

Matthew 7:16-20

You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. ¹⁹ So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.

Does your life produce “good fruit” or “bad fruit”?

What does your “good fruit” look like?

What does you “bad fruit” look like?

What do you think of vs. 19?

Is that going to be you? Why or why not?

James 2:14-17

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions (FRUIT)? Can that kind of faith save anyone? ¹⁵ Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, ¹⁶ and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

 ¹⁷ So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds (FRUIT), it is dead and useless.

What does “good deeds” look like in your life? Give some specific examples/ stories.

This verse is saying you prove you are a Christian by your “good deeds” (FRUIT), what do you think about that?

Do you think people see you are a Christian by the way you act?

John 15:1-2

“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” _Jesus

Are you willing to be pruned?

How are you pruned? What do you have to do? (you kind of have to think about this one and remember Pastor Tim’s sermon and the next verse can help you)

Do you want to be like Jesus and produce “even more”?

John 15:4,5,8
Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing…When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.

We need to remain in Jesus, how do we do that? Be vary specific.

Matthew 3:10

Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.

Can we please remember this verse! As you go to worship, “remain in Him”.